Warragamba Dam spills after rains

Updated
Mon Feb 25 11:40:02 EST 2013

Photo

Warragamba Dam in Sydney's west, spills over for the first time in 14 years, March 3, 2012. Around 3,500 people have been told to evacuate from their homes across NSW as 75 per cent of the state is affected by floodwaters.

AAP: Mick Tsikas

Sydney's Warragamba Dam is full and spilling over due to the heavy rain in the catchment over the weekend.

The Sydney Catchment Authority says the spill gates automatically opened this morning at about 6:00am (AEDT) to release some of the water.

Spokesman Ross Young says a relatively small amount of water is being released.

"It's probably about two days of consumption overall," he said.

"Virtually all of the dams if they're not spilling, they're very, very close to spilling, and this has got to be good news compared to other parts of Australia which are experiencing drought."

Hydrologist Keith Dwyer from the Bureau of Meteorology says the Nepean and Hawkesbury Rivers will be affected, with minor flooding predicted in the Penrith and North Richmond areas.

"We believe there will be minimal danger because it won't get higher than minor flood level," he said.

The Warragamba Dam reached capacity and started spilling for the first time in 14 years last March.